My wife wants to buy a couple of mobile phones for her family in a remote village in kaemphaeng phet, when we return to holiday in thailand in FEB.

She was planning on buying the phones in thailand. However last night on uk TV we saw motorola picture phones (pay as you go) for only £20. She said this was cheap even by thailand standards. Mobiles do work in her village.

I have a couple of questions for those of you living in thailand or who have brought mobiles from the UK to thailand.

1. How much would i be able to buy a new phone for in thailand.

2. Does it matter what kind, with regards to being out in the sticks, or does this depend on the service provider (sim) same as in the UK.

3. If i brought the phones in the uk is there any regulations with regards to taking them to thailand (she wants to take up to 4)

4. Would i be able to get them flashed so they understand thai text and at what cost.

Many thanks

Mr & Mrs Spuds

Can't answer everything, but:-

Pay as you go phones will certainly be locked to the network they were purchased for. It MAY be possible to unlock them here but the phone companies are getting cleverer with their locking process.

Much better to buy the phones in LOS, then they definitely have Thai

and a guarantee if you buy new.

No problems about locking or anything like that.

20 quid...... bring them, no probs unlocking, try the salesMEN on the sales counter at DTAC in the WTC.

What model Motorolas are they?

Leave all packaging behind in the UK. I brought 6 nokias with me in 1999.

20 quid...... bring them, no probs unlocking, try the salesMEN on the sales counter at DTAC in the WTC.

Leave all packaging behind in the UK. I brought 6 nokias with me in 1999. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

we bring that number on every trip. ...Thais (women especially) like the ones not available in town especially if they are NOT made in China

MBK-Secon Sq will unlock-unfrock-undock and do whatever you need to get em up and running...mai peng..

Any shop can add the thai language pack...so no worries there.

what about the reception kind of thing and how much would i pay for a phone in los

I just carry/use my old Nokia...the bog standard type that nobody would ever consider nicking.

Just change over the sim when you leave UK and bung in a Thai one.

Seems to last for ever and you can top up almost anywhere.

Reception like everywhere a bit hit and miss..top of mountain in Chiang mai ..Nothing..Basement car park at secon Square-Great...TIT

Any shop can add the thai language pack...so no worries there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Took an NEC338 from UK to LOS for g/f,went to MBK they un-locked it

but couldnt load a thai language pack,VERY frustrating for Nung thai !!!

I heard that at MBK, there is also quite a large selection of 2nd hand cheap mobiles for sale.

unless the phone is released in thailand it is unlikely there is a thai language rom for it which means no thai script.

you need to read the fine print for the 20quid phones - I would suggest you just buy here at MBK